Hosiery inspecting, stacking and bundling apparatus



G. T. SMITH Sept. 12, 1961 HOSIERY INSPECTING, STACKING AND BUNDLINGAPPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 12, 1961sMlTH 2,999,618

HOSIERY INSPECTING, STACKING AND BUNDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY M;%

ATTORNEY) rates tucky Filed Aug. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 832,047 Claims. (Cl.223-43) This invention relates to hosiery inspection apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus for automatically stacking and bundlinghosiery at the conclusion of an inspection operation.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide apparatus forautomatically stacking and bundling inspected hosiery whose action iscorrelated with and controlled by the operation of an associated hosieryinspection device.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus forinspecting, stacking and bundling hosiery wherein the inspection,stacking, and bundling operations are controlled by a single controlelement.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved in a device wherein ahollow, open-ended transfer tube is constructed with a hosieryinspection form on the exterior of one end of the tube. A source of airunder pressure is connected to the tube in such a manner that the airflow may be induced through the tube in either direction. The airpressure source is controlled from a manually actuated foot pedal whichin its normal or unactuated position conditions the pressure source toforce air to flow through the tube in a direction such that it isdischarged from the end upon which the inspection form is located. Airflow in this direction assists the operator in slipping a hose over theform on the exterior of the tube by blowing up the hose. At theconclusion of the inspection operation, the operator depresses the footpedal to reverse the fiow of air through the tube and the hose is suckedinto the open end of the tube and transferred through the tube to itsother end. A mechanical stacking device is operable to withdraw the hosefrom the last mentioned end of the tube and, by rapid movement away fromthe end of the tube draws the hose out to its full length and depositsthe hose in a direction extending transversely across the carrying runof a belt conveyor. The stacking device is operated by a pneumatic motorwhich is in turn actuated by the pressure source in a manner such thatthe action of the stacking device is correlated with the inspectionoperation. The conveyer carries hose received from the stacking deviceto a conventional bundle tying machine which is operable, when actuated,to tie hosiery delivered to the bundling machine into a bundle.

Actuation of the bundling machine is controlled by a counter which is inturn operated by the foot pedal by which the operator controls the flowof the air through the transfer tube of the inspection portion of themachine. The counter is coupled to suitable control mechanism in amanner such that the bundling machine is actuated after a selectednumber of manual actuations of the foot pedal by the machine operator.The control means for the bundling machine includes a delay mechanism sothat the hose transferred by the final actuation of the foot pedal hastime to be transferred through the transfer tube, stacking device andconveyer and be received at the bundling machine before the bundlingmachine is actuated to tie the received hose into a bundle.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially schematic and paratent Q tially insection of one form of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit of theapparatus of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of a timing control deviceemployed in the operation of the circuit in FIG. 3.

Apparatus embodying the present invention includes a hosiery inspectionand stacking device designated generally 10 which includes an inspectionform 12 mounted upon the exterior surface of one end of a hollowopenended transfer tube 14 which extends from form 12 through theinterior of the machine housing 16 to terminate at a delivery stationdefined by projecting resilient wire fingers 18 at the other end of tube14. A stacking arm assembly designated generally 20* is mounted uponmachine housing 16 for oscillating pivotal movement between the fullline position and broken line positions of FIG. 1. The structuredescribed thus far is shown and described in detail in United StatesPatent No. 2,964,221 and does not, per se, form the present invention.However, the invention advantageously employs certain features of themachine disclosed in the above-identified patent application and a briefgeneral description of the inspecting and stacking apparatus follows.

A source of air under pressure is located within the machine housing 16and indicated generally at 22. A first conduit 24 is connected betweenpressure source 22 and transfer tube 14 in a manner such that when airpasses from source 22 through conduit 24 it is discharged directly fromtube 14 through the delivery station end of the tube. This actioninduces a flow of air through tube 14 from the inspection form end ofthe tube to the delivery station end of the tube. A sufficient flow ofair is induced so that a hose fitted over the inspection form is suckedinto the end of tube 14 and transferred through the tube to deliverystation 18. A second conduit 26 is connected into transfer tube 14 as at28 in a fashion such that when air flows from source 22 through conduit26 and into transfer tube 14, air flow through tube 14 is induced in adirection from the delivery station end of the tube toward theinspection form end.

The direction of flow of air through tube 14 is controlled by theoperator by a foot pedal 30 coupled through suitable linkage such as 32to a valve shutter 34. Linkage 32 is so arranged that when the footpedal is in its normal elevated position (FIG. 2) valve shutter 34blocks communication between the interior of pressure source 22 andconduit 24 while opening conduit 26 to pressure source 22. As describedabove this causes a normal flow of air through transfer tube 14 in adirection toward the inspection form end of the tube. To reverse theflow of air through transfer tube 14, the operator depresses pedal 30and linkage 32 acts to shift valve shutter 34 to a position openingconduit 24 to source 22 and blocking communication between source 22 andconduit 26.

Stacking arm assembly 20 is biased to the full line position of FIG. 1by a tension spring such as 36. A pneumatic bellows 38 is connectedthrough a piston rod 40 in a manner such that when air is supplied tothe bellows, piston rod 40 is extended to drive the stacking armassembly to the broken line position of FIG. 1. A conduit 42 connectsbellows 38 to conduit 26 so that under conditions of normal air flowthrough transfer tube 14, stacking arm assembly 20 will be located inthe broken line position of FIG. 1. Stacking arm assembly 20 is soconstructed that it will grip and withdraw a hose from fingers 18 duringmovement from the full line to broken line position of FIG. 1 andrelease the hose upon arrival of the stacking arm assembly at the brokenline position.

The rate of movement of stacking arm assembly from the full line to thebroken line position of FIG. 1 is sufficiently rapid so that the hose isextended full length as indicated at H in FIG. 1.

When stacking arm assembly arrives at broken line position of FIG. 1,the hose is released and dropped upon the carrying run of a beltconveyer 4'4 which is driven as by an electric motor schematicallyillustrated at 46 in Conveyer 44 delivers the hose to the receivingchute 48 of a bundle tying machine designated generally 50. Bundle tyingmachine 50 may take the form of any of a number of well-known,commercially available machines of this type. The particular machineemployed should be of a type in which an electrical motor such as 52 maybe actuated to drive the machine in a cycle of bundle tying movement inwhich a group of hose such as at 54 (FIG. 2) are tied in a bundle andejected from the machine as by an ejection arm 56 upon the completion ofthe tying operation. Since such machines are wellknown and widelyemployed in the industry, further description of the bundling machinewill be omitted. One example of such a machine is Saxmayer Model No. 9F,manufactured by National Bundle Tyer Company of Blissfield, Michigan.

To control and interrelate the operation of bundle tying machine 54 withthe inspecting portion of the apparatus, a series of three cam operatedlimit switches C1, C2 and C3 are located with their strikersrespectively engaged with earns 60, 62 and 64 mounted upon a commonshaft 66 driven in rotation by a constant speed electric timing motor T.Each of earns 60, 62 and 6-4 is cut and rotatively oriented upon shaft66 in a fashion such that the striker of its associated limit switchwill be actuated through a selected portion of each complete rotation ofshaft 66 which is in turn related to the respective portions of therotati-ve cycle during which the other limit switch strikers areactuated.

The respective electrical contacts controlled by switches C1, C2 and C3are connected in the electrical control circuit of FIG. 3 together witha control relay designated R and a counter operated switch C4.

Counter operated switch C4 is controlled from a conventional countersuch as 68 which is actuated by each depression of foot pedal 30. Aswill be recalled from the description above, foot pedal 30' is employedby the machine operator to control valve 34 and, each time foot pedal 30is depressed, a flow of air is induced inwardly through the inspectionfrom end of transfer tube 14 to transfer an inspected hose through thetube to fingers 18. In this particular industry, it is customary to paythe machine operator on the basis of the number of hose inspected, hencecounter 68 may be considered a normal component of the inspectionportion of the machine. Counter 68 is coupled to counter switch C4 in afashion such that the contacts of switch C4 are closed after a selectednumber of actuations of counter 68. Thus, if it is desired to tiehosiery into bundles each consisting of 24 hose, counter 68 is adjustedso that switch C4 is closed on every twenty-fourth actuation of footpedal 30.

Referring now to the electrical circuit of FIG. 3, when switch C4 isclosed, a circuit is completed across supply lines L1 and L2 to energizetimer motor T, represented schematically in FIG. 3. When energized,timer motor T starts to rotate shaft 66 and cam 60 is so arranged thatafter an initial period of rotation cam 60 actuates the striker of limitswitch C1 to close contact C1 in FIG. 3, thereby energizing controlrelay R. 'When relay R is energized, it closes a pair of relaycontrolled contacts Ra and Rb. Contacts Ra are connected in parallelwith contacts C4,' thus switch C4 may open upon the next actuationoffoot pedal 30 without influencing the operationtofthe electricalcircuitofFIG. '3. Contacts Rb are 4 connected to a bundle tier actuating coil Bwhich, when energized, starts motor 52 of the bundle tying machine,motor 52 running through a complete cycle of tying and ejecting movementupon the energization of coil B.

After the particular actuation of foot pedal 30 which initially closescounter controlled contact C4, it is necessary for the hose transferredby this actuation of foot pedal 30 to pass through transfer tube 14, betransferred by stacking arm assembly 20' to conveyer 44 and to: be

delivered by conveyer 44 to the bundle tying machine. Cam 62 whichcontrols limit switch C2 is thus cut so that a suflicient time delay topermit the above-mentioned transfer of the last hose occurs before thebundle tying -machine is actuated. When this time delay has elapsed,contacts C2 are closed, thereby actuating the bundle tier.

In cases where the total transit time of the hose from the inspectionform to the bundle tying machine is relatively short, cam 64 is cut toopen contacts C3 to stop conveyer motor 46 during the time intervalwhile the bundle tying machine is being actuated thereby assuring thatthe next following hose does not arrive at the bundle tying machine intime to be included within the bunde being tied or to interfere with thetying operation.

Timer motor T continues to rotate throughout a practically completerevolution until the low or short radius portion of cam 60 passesbeneath the striker of limit switch C1, at which time contacts C1 opento deenergize relay R, thereby opening contacts Ra and Rb. Hosetransferred during the time period whilethe bundle tying machine isbeing actuated may be stacked upon the conveyer, however, the stoppingof the conveyer prevents these hose from reaching the bundle tyingmachine. Contacts C3 close just prior to the deenergization of relay Rto start the conveyer.

While I have disclosed but one embodimentof my invention, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment maybe modified. Therefor, the foregoing description is to be consideredexemplary .rather thanlimiting and the true scope of my invention is ofsaid transfer means, and meanscontrolled by said counting means foractuating said bundling means to tie hosiery into bundles containing aselected number of hose.

2. A hosiery inspection and bundling machine comprising a hosieryinspection form, bundling means for receiving inspected hosiery fromsaid form and operable when actuated to tie received hosiery into abundle, means actuable to transfer an inspected hose from said form tosaid bundling means, control means operable by actuation of saidtransfer means to actuate said bundling means after a selected number ofsuccessive actuations of said transfer means, and means coupled to saidcontrol means for delaying actuation of said bundling means until thehose transferred by thelast of said selected number of successiveactuations is received by said bundling means.

3. A hosiery inspection and bundling machine comprising a hollowopen-ended transfer tube, .an inspection form on the exterior of saidtube at one end thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tube fornormally maintaining a flow of air thronghsaid tube toward said one endof said tube and actuable to reverse the flow of air through said tubeto remove a hose from said inspection form and transfer the removed hosethrough said tube to a delivery station at the other end .of said tube,bundling means for receiving inspectedhosiery from said delivery stationand operable when actuated to tie received hosiery into a bundle,transfer means controlled by said pneumatic means for transferring aninspected hose from said delivery station to said bundling means, andmeans responsive to repeated actuations of said pneumatic means forcontrolling actuation of said bundling means.

4. A hosiery inspection and bundling machine comprising a hollowopen-ended transfer tube, an inspection form on the exterior of saidtube at one end thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tube fornormally maintaining a flow of air through said tube toward said one endof said tube and actuable to reverse the flow of air through said tubeto remove a hose from said inspection form and transfer the removed hosethrough said tube to a delivery station at the other end of said tube,bundling means for receiving inspected hosiery from said deliverystation and operable when actuated to tie received hosiery into abundle, transfer means controlled by said pneumatic means fortransferring an inspected hose from said delivery station to saidbundling means, means for counting actuations of said pneumatic means,and means controlled by said counting means for actuating said bundlingmeans to tie hosiery into bundles containing a selected number of hose.

5. A hosiery inspection and bundling machine comprising a hollowopen-ended transfer tube, an inspection form on the exterior of saidtube at one end thereof,

pneumatic means connected to said tube for normally maintaining a flowof air through said tube toward said one end of said tube and actuableto reverse the flow of air through said tube to remove a hose from saidinspection form and transfer the removed hose through said tube to adelivery station at the other end of said tube, bundling means forreceiving inspected hosiery from said delivery station and operable whenactuated to tie received hosiery into a bundle, transfer meanscontrolled by said pneumatic means for transferring an inspected hosefrom said delivery station to said bundling means, control meansoperable by actuation of said pneumatic means to actuate said bundlingmeans after a selected number of successive actuations of said pneumaticmeans, and means coupled to said control means for delaying actuation ofsaid bundling means until the hose transferred by the last of saidselected number of successive actuations is received by said bundlingmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,454,622 Ammon Nov. 23, 1948 2,684,187 Kienel July 20, 1954 2,722,348Ammon Nov. 1, 1955 2,818,205 De Spain Dec. 31, 1957

